Two Israeli test pilots escaped injury when the upgraded Colombian air force Kfir fighter they were flying ran off the runway in Cartagena on 20 July.

Believed to be from an initial batch of ex-Israeli air force Kfirs that have been modernised for Colombia by Israel Aerospace Industries, aircraft FAC-3004 suffered major damage after crossing a road and coming to rest against large rocks.

The two-seat trainer's starboard wing was severed in the incident, with its airframe also suffering further substantial damage in a resulting fire.

IAI last month delivered Colombia's first batch of modernised Kfirs, which have received new avionics and electronic warfare equipment and Elta Systems EL/M-2032 fire control radars.

The Israeli company says it will upgrade 12 Kfirs already in service with the Colombian air force under a contract worth more than $150 million, "and supply additional jets". Local media reports suggest the deal covers a total of 24 aircraft.